Farewell to the fruit man - John's Produce closes after 32 years

Lorraine and John Storie enjoy their last day running John's Produce on Oropi Rd, one of Tauranga's oldest businesses of its kind. Photo/John Borren

The sign outside John's Produce on Tauranga's city fringe says it all.

"Thank you John's Produce for supporting our school. Enjoy your well-earned retirement, John and Lorraine."

After 32 years' running the fruit and vegetable store on Oropi Rd, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, the Stories are finally calling it a day.

For Lorraine Storie, the past couple of weeks since announcing the closure have been emotional, "but it's good emotions".

In between serving customers for the last time today , she confessed she had not quite prepared for community response.

A sign from Oropi School thanking the Stories for their support stands at the entrance.

Meanwhile, many regulars stop by to wish the couple well and thank them for their business.

Lorraine Storie is regularly brought to tears.

"There have been a lot of people saying that they will miss us, but I think we will miss them," she said.

"It's been fantastic, but it's so sad to leave everybody. You feel like you are letting people down a little bit. That's the hardest part."

When the couple set the shop up in 1986, John Storie said there were plenty of sceptics.

He had moved from working at Tauranga Central Stores in Devonport Rd but "people were saying 'what are you doing? Are you sure?'", he said.

Sign mark the final day of John's Produce on Oropi Rd. Photo/John Borren

"There was nobody here in Oropi then. There was a house across the road over there and two farmhouses up there," John Storie said pointing towards Pyes Pa.

"Now we've been here long enough to see parents with their babies, and seeing those babies grown now with their own babies."

The decision to retire had been tough, but at 69, John Storie felt it was the right one. But like his wife, he had not anticipated people's reactions.

"There's been an outflowing of support for us. It's been overwhelming. The Oropi community is very strong, and as a community, they've made it quite hard for us to go."

John Storie had no idea they had such an impact on the community over the years and was humbled to see so many people wish them well.

"We've enjoyed what we've been doing here, and we will miss all of our customers who have become close friends. It would not have been possible without the support of loyal staff."

Team members Wayne Hill and Michael Grant have been with the Stories for 32 years and 12 years respectively. After today they will be looking for work, as the fruit and veg store prepares to become an office for a haulage company.

Customer Marie Soole has been a regular at John's Produce for 16 years and said she would miss them terribly, but they deserved a well-earned break.

"They've put in the hard yards. They've been wonderful. The Oropi community will miss them so much."